Three WHS basketball players make All-Conference

Published 6:32 pm Monday, April 10, 2023

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Washington High School has three representatives on the Eastern Plains boys and girls All-Conference teams.

Junior Triniti Burke was the girls selection, while freshman Chaise Smith and sophomore Javon Williams were chosen for the boys squad.

North Pitt junior Zamareya Jones earned girls Player of the Year honors, while her coach, Antwon Pittman was selected as Coach of the Year.

Jones led the conference with 28.9 points a game and helped the Panthers (27-3) to the fourth round of the 2A state tournament after a 13-0 conference season.

Burke averaged a team-best 10.1 points a game and with five rebounds per contest for the Pack (0-19).

“She was our best defender in addition to her scoring and rebounding and made lots of big shots for us,” coach Will Tyson said. “Her work ethic was outstanding and she practiced hard every day trying to help us get a win. She was a solid all-around player for us and was fun to coach.”

Williams and Smith helped the boys to a third place finish with a 9-4 league record and a 14-14 overall mark.

Williams averaged 17.5 points a game, second in the EPC behind Player of the Year, Jah Short of Farmville Central, who averaged 23.7 on his way to the University of New Orleans next year. The Jaguars won their fourth 2A state title in the last five years under Larry Williford, who was named the EPC’s Coach of the Year.

“Javon excelled on both ends of the floor for us,” WHS coach David Allewalt said. “He could finish at the rim or help us from the mid-range. His three-point shot improved, he became stronger mentally and he became more consistent as the season continued. He was unselfish and always tried to get his teammates involved.”

As the point guard, Smith kept his teammates involved from the start and finished third in the league in assists and second in steals while averaging 15 points a game.

“It’s a tremendous achievement to make All-Conference as a freshman,” Allewalt said. “He is explosive and made his own offense when he needed to while making passes at the right time. His defense improved and he adjusted to the high school pace better in the second half of the season.”

The Pack returns four of the five starters, also including post player Gary Payne and guard Jerai Davenport.